The Government has issued a new directive declaring a large swathe of land as an infected area following an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), according to the latest Extraordinary Government Gazette.
The declaration, published under Statutory Instrument No. 50 of 2026, was made in accordance with the Diseases of Animals Act by the Acting Director of Veterinary Services, Dr Kobedi Segale. It marks the third such order this year aimed at containing the spread of the highly contagious livestock disease.
The affected area stretches across a significant portion of southern and western Botswana. It is bounded by the Botswana–South Africa border from Phala Camp to Banyana Farms, extending westward along the Kgalagadi and Good Hope district boundaries, and further north towards the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR). Authorities have also included the cordon fence running from the CKGR to Phala Camp within the designated zone.
In addition to the infected area, several regions have been classified as FMD control zones.
Authorities have also been granted powers to seize or destroy infected livestock, contaminated materials, and any vehicles or equipment deemed a risk. Vaccination campaigns targeting cloven-hoofed animals will be carried out across the infected areas, with limited exemptions granted at the discretion of veterinary officials.
These include zones 3b, 3c (Dukwi), 4a, 4b, 5, 6a, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, and 13.
The order introduces strict animal health control measures, effective immediately and until further notice. These include intensified surveillance of susceptible animals, mandatory biosecurity and disinfection protocols, and tight restrictions on the movement of cloven-hoofed animals and their products within, into, or out of the affected zones.
Authorities have also been granted powers to seize or destroy infected livestock, contaminated materials, and any vehicles or equipment deemed a risk. Vaccination campaigns targeting cloven-hoofed animals will be carried out across the infected areas, with limited exemptions granted at the discretion of veterinary officials.
The government emphasized that additional measures may be introduced as necessary to curb the outbreak.
Farmers and the public have been warned that failure to comply with the new regulations will result in penalties under the Diseases of Animals Act.
